Magazine base pad assembly and magazine extension assembly

ABSTRACT

Some embodiments may include a firearm magazine base pad assembly or magazine extension assembly comprising a top, a bottom, and a cavity between the top and bottom, the cavity for a core or removable insert, the firearm magazine base pad assembly or magazine extension assembly further comprising: means for slidingly receiving a bottom of a magazine, the slidingly receiving means including a channel to receive a lip defined by the bottom of the magazine and tab slots to mate with tabs above the lip; and the core or removable insert located in the cavity. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional of and claims priority benefit to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/350,726, filed on Jun. 9, 2022, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

A firearm magazine may include a magazine body, a magazine feed spring, a follower on one end of the magazine feed spring, and a retaining plate on the other end of the magazine feed spring. A base pad may attached to a bottom of the magazine body may hold the retaining plate in place.

These firearm magazines may be serviced by removing the base pad, which allows the retaining plate and magazine feed spring to be removed from the magazine body. The base pad is removed by inserting a punch tool into a hole at the bottom of the base pad—the punch tool is used to collapse the magazine feed spring. Once the magazine feed spring is collapsed, the base pad may be slidingly removed from the bottom of the magazine body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an isometric top view of a magazine base pad having a metal core, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 1B is an isometric bottom view of the magazine base pad of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is side view of the magazine base pad of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D is a sectional view of the magazine base pad taken along section line A of FIG. 1C.

FIG. 1E is an isometric view of a magazine assembly including the magazine base pad of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1F is an isometric view of the magazine assembly of FIG. 1E in which the magazine base pad is installed on the magazine body.

FIG. 2A is an exploded isometric view of another magazine assembly with a magazine base pad having a removable insert, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 2B is a side view of the retaining plate of the magazine assembly of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C is an isometric side view of the magazine assembly of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2D is a partial cross sectional view taken along section line B of FIG. 2C.

FIG. 2E is a bottom view of the magazine assembly of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2F is a top view of the magazine base pad of the magazine assembly of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is an exploded isometric view of a magazine extension assembly having a magazine extension housing with an insert, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 3B is an isometric bottom view of a front part of the magazine extension housing of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C is an isometric view of the magazine extension assembly of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3D is a side view of the magazine extension assembly of FIG. 3B.

FIG. 3E is enlarged partial detail C of the magazine extension housing of FIG. 3D.

FIG. 4A is an exploded isometric view of another magazine extension assembly having a magazine extension housing with an insert, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 4B is an isometric bottom view of a front part of the magazine extension housing of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C is an isometric view of the magazine extension assembly of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4D is a side view of the magazine extension assembly of FIG. 4B.

FIG. 4E is enlarged partial detail D of the magazine extension housing of FIG. 4D.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown by way of illustration embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Various operations may be described as multiple discrete actions or operations in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the claimed subject matter. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations may not be performed in the order of presentation. Operations described may be performed in a different order than the described embodiment. Various additional operations may be performed and/or described operations may be omitted in additional embodiments.

The terms “substantially,” “close,” “approximately,” “near,” and “about,” generally refer to being within +/−10% of a target value. Unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner.

For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrases “A and/or B” and “A or B” mean (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B, and C).

The description may use the phrases “in an embodiment,” or “in embodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of the present disclosure, are synonymous.

Magazine Base Pad Assembly

As long as the weight of the magazine is sufficient, when the magazine release button is depressed, friction between the magazine and the firearm will be overcome and the magazine will optimally fall away from the firearm, which allows a replacement magazine to be quickly slapped into the firearm. A stock magazine that is completely empty of rounds may not have sufficient weight to optimally fall away from the firearm.

It may be possible to manufacture a new magazine body having a top with a slightly smaller dimensions to reduce this friction, which may allow an empty magazine to optimally fall away from the firearm. However, such an approach may involve extremely narrow tolerances, which may result in high manufacturing costs, and also may include the cost of replacing most or all parts of the magazine assembly.

Some aftermarket magazine base pads may be machined from a single piece of metal, and as such may have more than enough weight to optimize fall away of an empty magazine. However, the known metal replacement base pads may wear the bottom of the polymer magazine body when they are attached or removed, which may reduce the lifespan of the magazine body. Also, the known metal replacement base pads may be marred (e.g., scratched, dented, or the like) from the impact resulting from the empty magazine falling to the ground.

Some embodiments described herein include a modularized durable polymer magazine base pad with a metal insert (e.g., a planarized metal insert, which may be machinable from a plate). In some embodiments, the metal insert may be removable from a body of the magazine base pad. In other embodiments, the magazine base pad may be formed by an overmold process around a core (e.g., a metal core integrated inside a polymer body).

FIG. 1A is an isometric top view of a magazine base pad 100 having a metal core 20, according to various embodiments. FIG. 1B is an isometric bottom view of the magazine base pad 100 of FIG. 1A. The magazine base pad 100 includes a body 19 (e.g., a polymer body) and the metal core 20 within the body 19 (in the FIG. 1A view, the metal core 20 can be seen through the hole 19—however, the metal core 20 is also shown in FIG. 1D in a cross-sectional view).

Referring again to FIG. 1A, a top of the body 19 includes an opening 11 to slidingly receive any magazine base pad interface on a bottom of a magazine body (not shown), which may be any magazine body now known or later developed. The opening 11 includes a channel 15 to receive a lip of the magazine base pad interface on the bottom of the magazine body (not shown), and tab slots 16 to receive tabs of the magazine base pad interface on the bottom of the magazine body (not shown). FIG. 1E illustrates a known magazine base pad interface 31 on a bottom of a known magazine body 151, which is a magazine for Glock-compatible firearms.

Referring again to FIG. 1A, the hole 12 to receive a post (not shown) on a retaining plate of a magazine assembly is defined by the body 19, as illustrated. When the post (not shown) is located in the hole 12, the top of that post is accessible through the window 24 defined by the body 19 and through the tool opening 23 (FIG. 1B). In this embodiment, the tool opening 23 is defined by the bottom side of the metal core 20, but in other embodiments the tool opening 23 may be defined by the bottom of the body 19 (in one example, a core may be shorter so it is not over such a tool opening).

FIG. 1C is side view of the magazine base pad 100 of FIG. 1A. FIG. 1D is a sectional view of the magazine base pad 100 taken along section line A of FIG. 1C. This view shows that the metal core 20 is a planar core that may be formed (e.g., machined) from a brass plate, steel plate, an aluminum plate, or some other metal plate. The planar core may be as thin as possible to provide a minimum threshold weight to optimize empty fall away, based on the desired material used for the metal plate.

The metal core 20 formed from the metal plate may then be positioned within a polymer mold, and overmolded within the body 19. The polymer mold may have a pair of process tool openings that can be used by process tools to fixably position the metal core 20 within the molding. The pair of process tool openings may be correspond to the window 24 and the hole 12 (FIG. 1A), so that no processing artifacts are present on the body 19 when the overmolding process is complete.

FIG. 1E is an isometric view of a magazine assembly 150 including the magazine base pad 100 of FIG. 1A. FIG. 1F is an isometric view of the magazine assembly 150 of FIG. 1E in which the magazine base pad 100 is installed on the magazine body 151.

The magazine assembly 150 includes the magazine base pad 100 and known magazine components including a magazine body 39, a retaining plate (not shown), a known magazine feed spring (not shown), and a follower (not shown). In other words, the magazine base pad 100 is backwards compatible with existing magazine components.

Unlike some known metal magazine base pads, the magazine base pad 100 includes a channel and tab slots which may be composed of a similar material as the magazine base pad interface 31 (e.g., polymer). Therefore, the magazine base pad 100 may not prematurely wear the magazine base pad interface 31 like some known metal magazine base pads. Also, the magazine base pad 100 is self-retaining in that it does not require additional fasteners used in some machined metal magazine base pads.

Referring to FIG. 1F, the magazine base pad 100 may add to the total length (from bottom to top) of the magazine assembly 150 as compared to a magazine assembly with the original magazine base pad (not shown). However, referring to FIGS. 1D and 1E in combination, the added length may correspond to the section of the magazine base pad 100 below a bottom of the opening 11, which provides optimal operation of the magazine feed spring and follower of the magazine assembly 150. The length of this lower section may depend on a thickness of the metal core 20, which may depend on user preference and the density of the metal (e.g., an aluminum core may be arranged with greater thickness than a steel core to meet the threshold empty magazine weight to optimize fall away).

When the user depresses the magazine release button on a firearm (not shown) and the magazine assembly 151 drops out of the firearm, a guard 29 (FIG. 1B) defined a bottom of the body 19 may protect a smooth metal surface of the metal core 20 from marring. This smooth metal surface may include a custom engraving, such as a custom identifier of the owner of the firearm base pad as shown in FIG. 2E.

Although the core 20 in this example is a metal core, other examples may include an overmold formed around a core of a different material. The core material may be any material having a density that is different (e.g., greater to reach a target total weight to optimize empty magazine fall away) than a density of a material of the overmold material).

FIG. 2A is an exploded isometric view of another magazine assembly 231 with a magazine base pad 200 having a removable insert 219, according to various embodiments. FIG. 2B is a side view of the retaining plate 240 of the magazine assembly 231 of FIG. 2A. The magazine assembly 231 includes a magazine body 251, which may be similar in any respect to magazine body 151 (FIG. 1E) or any other magazine body described herein. A magazine feed spring 241 and retaining plate 240 are shown, which may be any magazine feed spring and retaining plate, now known or later developed.

The illustrated magazine assembly 231 may include any magazine base pad features described herein. In this embodiment, a top of the body 220 is arranged to mate with a bottom of the magazine body 251. However, unlike other embodiments described herein in which the body 220 is also arranged to mate with the post, in this embodiment the top side of the insert 219 is arranged to mate with the post on the bottom side of the retaining plate 240 (FIG. 2B).

FIG. 2C is an isometric side view of the magazine assembly 231 of FIG. 2A. FIG. 2D is a partial cross sectional view taken along section line B of FIG. 2C. This view is shown at 2:1 scale. The insert 220 is within the body 219, similar to metal core 20 and body 19 (FIG. 1A). A tool may be inserted through the opening on the bottom side of the body 219 to press on a top of the post (not shown) locatable in the hole 12.

FIG. 2E is a bottom view of the magazine assembly 231 of FIG. 2A. FIG. 2F is a top view of the magazine base pad 200 of the magazine assembly 231 of FIG. 2A. In this embodiment, the window is smaller than the window of FIG. 2A. Therefore, tool access does not go through the smaller window (tool access is through the opening proximate to the window). A frame of the window is similar to the guard 29 (FIG. 1B).

Referring again to FIG. 2A, the insert 219 may be retained by the magazine feed spring 241, as illustrated. The insert 219 may rest in a mating slot inside the body 220, and may be removable from the mating slot by removing the magazine base pad 200 from the magazine body 231. In other embodiments, a magazine base pad may include its own retaining spring for retaining an insert, which may be similar to the retaining spring illustrated in FIG. 3A.

Magazine Extension Assembly

Magazine extensions kits are known. These kits may include a plastic magazine extension having a top end that is the same as the top end of the original magazine base pad. The original magazine base pad is removed, and the magazine extension is attached to the magazine body (along with a longer magazine feed spring) in place of it.

In some embodiments, any of the features of any magazine base pad described herein may be used in a magazine extension assembly. In particular, the magazine extension assembly may include any of the features described with respect the magazine base pad assembly 100 of FIG. 1 (or any magazine base pad assembly described herein), but has a greater total length (from bottom to top). The additional length may be between the channel 15 and a bottom of the opening 11 (thus the insert, located below the opening 11, is located below the additional length). The additional rounds may be stored in this additional length. The magazine extension may use a lighter insert and/or (lighter metal for the insert) given the longer/heavier body, to minimize total weight added to the firearm.

FIG. 3A is an exploded isometric view of a magazine assembly 331 having a magazine extension housing with an insert 319, according to various embodiments. FIG. 3B is an isometric bottom view of a front part 320A of the magazine extension housing of FIG. 3A.

The insert 319 may be similar to the insert 219 (FIG. 2A), e.g., it may be metal core (or—of other different material than the body), formable (e.g., machinable) from a plate of material, and operable to supplement a weight of the magazine assembly 331 to optimize empty magazine fall away. In the illustrated embodiment, an underside of the insert 319 may be exposed by a window 324 in a bottom of the rear part 320B of the housing (the window 324 may be similar to the window 24 of FIG. 1A or any other window described herein). The underside of the insert 319, exposable by the window 324, may be engraved.

In other embodiments, the window 324 may not be included and an underside of the insert 319 may include recessing to achieve the minimal added weight to provide the minimal total threshold weight to optimize empty magazine fall away (for example, an aluminum insert 319 or other lighter metal insert may have a non-recessed underside whereas a brass insert 319 or other heavier metal may have a recessed underside).

A bottom of a magazine body 351 may include the same any magazine base pad interface as the bottom of the magazine body 151 of FIG. 1E (the magazine body 351 may be identical to the magazine body 151). A magazine extension housing front part 320A and a rear part 320B may be polymer, and a top of the front part 320A may be polymer arranged to mate with the magazine base pad interface, which allows the illustrated magazine extension assembly to attach to an original magazine in place of an original magazine base pad (not shown).

Also, like the insert 219 (FIG. 2A), the insert 319 may be retained using the magazine feed spring 341. The bottom of the magazine feed spring 341 is received by a top of the insert 319 (if an original magazine includes an original retaining plate, that part is not used in the magazine assembly 331). A bottom of the insert 319 is arranged to mate with an opening on a top of the rear part 320B of the magazine extension housing.

One of the magazine housing parts 320A and 320B may include a lip received by a slot in the other of the magazine housing parts 320A and 320B. In this embodiment, the slot 327 is defined by the front part 320A, but in other examples the slot may be defined by the rear part 320B.

The retaining spring 321 may be located inside of the front part 320A of the magazine extension housing, e.g., in a bottom of an opening 323A. When the retaining spring 321 is not collapsed, a top part of the plunger 322 is located in the opening 323A and a bottom part of the plunger 322 (e.g., the illustrated plunger tip) is located in a through opening 323B. In this position, the rear part 320B of the magazine housing is interlocked with the front part 320A of the magazine housing.

When the retaining spring 321 is collapsed, the rear part 320B of the magazine extension housing may move slidingly with respect to the front part 320A of the magazine extension housing. A bottom of the through opening 323B defines a tool opening that may be used to collapse the retaining spring 321.

FIG. 3C is an isometric view of the magazine assembly 331 of FIG. 3A. FIG. 3D is a side view of the magazine assembly 331 of FIG. 3B. FIG. 3E is enlarged partial detail C of the magazine extension housing of FIG. 3D.

A bottom of a magazine body 351 may include the same magazine base pad interface as the bottom of the magazine body 151 of FIG. 1E (the magazine body 351 may be identical to the magazine body 151). A part of the magazine extension assembly 300 (e.g., a top of the front part of the magazine housing) may be arranged to mate with the magazine base pad interface, which allows the magazine extension assembly 300 to attach to an original magazine in place of an original magazine base bad (not shown).

Of course, the interior of the magazine extension assembly 300 may hold rounds when the magazine feed spring is fully collapsed (not shown), which allows the magazine assembly 331 to hold more rounds than the magazine body 351 having a magazine base pad installed thereon. Of course, the illustrated magazine feed spring is longer than the magazine feed spring illustrated in FIG. 2A.

When the front and rear parts of the magazine extension housing are interlocked (as illustrated in FIGS. 3C and 3D), as shown in FIG. 3E a lip 328 defined by a top of the rear part 320B of the magazine extension housing engages with a bottom of the magazine body 351 to retain the magazine base pad interface of the magazine body 351 in the front part 320A of the magazine extension housing (e.g., to prevent the magazine body 351 from sliding out of the magazine extension housing). The lip 328 may be moved downward to allow the magazine body 351 to slide out of the magazine extension housing by separating the front and rear parts 420A and 420B of the magazine extension housing (e.g., by collapsing the retaining spring 321 of FIG. 3A).

FIG. 4A is an exploded isometric view of another magazine extension assembly 431 having a magazine extension housing with an insert 419, according to various embodiments. FIG. 4B is an isometric bottom view of a front part 420A of the magazine extension housing of FIG. 4A.

In this magazine extension assembly 431, the spring force that retains the insert 419 is generated by magazine feed spring 441. This provides tool-less assembly/disassembly by a user pressing on a bottom of the insert 419 with a thumb or finger through the window 424 to partially collapse the magazine feed spring 441 from a bottom of the magazine feed spring 441. The magazine feed spring 441 and the magazine body 451 may be the same the magazine feed spring 341 (FIG. 3A) and the magazine body 351 (FIG. 3A).

The insert 419 may be similar to the insert 319 (FIG. 3A) in all respects, except that the insert 419 includes tabs 468. The flat bottom of the tabs 468 may be urged against a flat bottom of the tab channels 467 by the magazine feed spring 441 when the magazine extension assembly 431 is assembled. Also, when assembled, the tabs 468 mate with the tab openings 469 (FIG. 4B) defined by an interior of the front part 420A of the magazine extension housing.

Referring again to FIG. 4A, when the insert 419 is pushed up by a user, the tabs 468 are pushed out of the tab openings 469, to the top of the tab channels 467. In this position, the front and rear parts 420A and 420B may be moved relative to each other to disassembly the magazine extension assembly 431.

FIG. 4C is an isometric view of the magazine extension assembly 431 of FIG. 4A. FIG. 4D is a side view of the magazine extension assembly 431 of FIG. 4B. FIG. 4E is enlarged partial detail D of the magazine extension housing of FIG. 4D.

A bottom of a magazine body 451 may include the same magazine base pad interface as the bottom of the magazine body 151 of FIG. 1E (the magazine body 451 may be identical to the magazine body 151). A part of the magazine extension assembly 400 (e.g., a top of the front part of the magazine housing) may be arranged to mate with the magazine base pad interface, which allows the magazine extension assembly 400 to attach to an original magazine in place of an original magazine base bad (not shown).

Of course, the interior of the magazine extension assembly 400 may hold rounds when the magazine feed spring is fully collapsed (not shown), which allows the magazine assembly 431 to hold more rounds than the magazine body 451 having a magazine base pad installed thereon. Of course, the illustrated magazine feed spring is longer than the magazine feed spring illustrated in FIG. 2A.

When the front and rear parts of the magazine extension housing are interlocked (as illustrated in FIGS. 4C and 4D), as shown in FIG. 4E a lip 428 defined by a top of the rear part 420B of the magazine extension housing engages with a bottom of the magazine body 451 to retain the magazine base pad interface of the magazine body 451 in the front part 420A of the magazine extension housing (e.g., to prevent the magazine body 451 from sliding out of the magazine extension housing). The lip 428 may be moved downward to allow the magazine body 451 to slide out of the magazine extension housing by separating the front and rear parts 420A and 420B of the magazine extension housing (e.g., by partially collapsing the magazine feed spring 441 of FIG. 4A).

Various embodiments described herein include a core located in an overmold part of a magazine assembly or a removable insert in a magazine base pad assembly or magazine extension assembly. However, any of the magazine base pad assembly or magazine extension assembly features described herein may be applied in embodiment without a core or insert, if desired. For example, in one embodiment, a magazine extension assembly may include a housing to receive a bottom of a magazine and house at least part of a magazine feed spring of the magazine. The housing may include a first section and a second section removably coupled (e.g., slidingly coupled) to the first section, wherein one of the first and second sections comprises a front part of the housing and the other of the first and second sections comprises a rear part of the housing. One of the first and second sections may include means for slidingly receiving a magazine base pad interface on the bottom of a magazine body of the magazine.

Various embodiments may include a magazine base pad assembly or magazine extension assembly usable in place of an original magazine base pad of an original magazine assembly. However, other embodiments may include a magazine assembly to fully replace an original magazine assembly. Yet other embodiments may include an original magazine assembly of a firearm in which the original magazine assembly includes any assembly or magazine extension assembly described herein.

We claim all modifications and variations coming within the spirit and scope of the following claims. 

1. An apparatus, comprising: a firearm magazine base pad assembly or magazine extension assembly comprising a top to receive a bottom of a magazine body, a bottom, and a cavity between the top and bottom, the cavity for a core or removable insert, the firearm magazine base pad assembly or magazine extension assembly further comprising: means for slidingly receiving the bottom of the magazine body, the slidingly receiving means located above the cavity and including a channel to receive a lip defined by the bottom of the magazine body and tab slots to mate with tabs above the lip; and the core or removable insert located in the cavity, wherein the core is overmolded, or wherein: the removable insert forms part of a bottom of the magazine base pad assembly or magazine extension assembly, exposed by a toolless-access window, or the removable insert is retained using a spring force generated by a different spring than a magazine feed spring.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the core comprises a metal core and the slidingly receiving means comprises polymer.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an interior of the firearm magazine base pad assembly or magazine extension assembly defining the cavity is integrally formed onto the core.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the removable insert is retained in the magazine body therein using at least one spring.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one spring comprises the magazine feed spring.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one spring comprises a retention spring located within the firearm magazine base pad assembly or magazine extension assembly.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the core or removable insert comprises a planar core or planar insert having a bottom planar side and a top planar side.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a top of the firearm magazine base pad assembly or magazine extension assembly is arranged to mate with a bottom of a retaining plate of the magazine; the top of the firearm magazine base pad assembly or magazine extension assembly including a hole to receive a post on the bottom of the retaining plate, the bottom of the firearm magazine base pad assembly or magazine extension assembly including a tool opening to access a top of the post.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a top side of the core or removable insert is arranged to mate with the bottom of the retaining plate, wherein the top side of core or removable insert defines the hole.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the firearm magazine base pad assembly or magazine extension assembly includes a window exposing at least part of the bottom of the core or removable insert.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magazine extension assembly comprises a magazine extension housing having front and rear parts in which one of the front and rear parts is slidingly detachable with the other of the front and rear parts.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a lip defined by a top of the rear part of the magazine extension housing, wherein the lip engages a bottom of the magazine body to prevent the magazine body from sliding out of the front part of the magazine housing.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the front part of the magazine extension housing includes a retention spring that is collapsible to disengage the lip from the bottom of the magazine body to slide the magazine body out of the front part of the magazine housing.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a magazine assembly including the firearm magazine base pad assembly or magazine extension assembly and the magazine.
 15. A firearm including the firearm magazine base pad assembly or magazine extension assembly of claim
 1. 16. An apparatus, comprising: a magazine extension assembly comprising a housing to receive a bottom of a magazine and house at least part of a magazine feed spring of the magazine, the housing comprising: a first section; and a second section removably coupled to the first section, wherein one of the first and second sections comprises a front part of the housing and the other of the first and second sections comprises a rear part of the housing; one of the first and second sections includes means for slidingly receiving a magazine base pad interface on the bottom of a magazine body of the magazine.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein one of the first and second sections of the magazine extension housing includes means for retaining the magazine base pad interface of the magazine body in the other of the first and second sections of the magazine extension housing.
 18. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising an insert detachably coupled to the magazine extension housing, wherein a top of the insert receives a bottom of the magazine feed spring.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the insert is retained in a cavity located in a bottom interior of one of the first and second sections of the magazine extension housing using at least one spring.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one spring comprises the magazine feed spring or a retaining spring located in magazine extension housing. 